Movies in the Park 2019

The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities proudly presents Movies in the Park. This annual series of free movies will be held every Friday night, from June 21 through August 16, in a different city park.

Activities begin at 8 p.m. and the movies start at 8:30 p.m., or as soon as it is dark. Families are invited to bring blankets or chairs and refreshments. Vendors will also have refreshments for sale.

The following is this summer’s Movies in the Park schedule:

Movies in the Park 2014

Join the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities our 2014 Movies in the Park series!

Our first movie of the year will begin on Friday, June 20 at Byrd Park, 600 S. Boulevard, 23221.

For more information or updates, please visit our Facebook page.

Movies in the Park Starts Friday

The department will officially kick off its annual Movies in the Park program Friday, June 21 in Byrd Park beside Fountain Lake with a showing of Madagascar 3.

     The annual series of free movies will be held every Friday night in a different park through August 16. The movies will begin at 8:30 p.m., or as soon as it’s dark, and families are invited to bring their own blankets or chairs and refreshments and enjoy the free PG-rated movies in the park. Vendors will also have refreshments for sale, and prior to each movie RVA Hoop House will provide hula hoop activities for all to enjoy. 

     This year’s series, co-sponsored by Pepsi, the CW Richmond, Bounce Richmond, and 106.5 the Beat, is scheduled as follows:

Date                            Location                                 Movie

June 21                        Byrd Park                                *MADAGASCAR 3

June 28                        Blackwell                                *RISE OF THE GUARDIANS

July  5                          Broad Rock Complex            *PARANORMAN

July 12                         Jefferson Park                         *HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA

July 19                         Hotchkiss                               THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN

July 26                         Humphrey Calder                   *BRAVE

August 2                     Abner Clay                              CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

August 9                     Battery Park                            JACK THE GIANT SLAYER

August 16                   Forest Hill                               OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL

                                                                                    * =  animated

For more information, call (804) 646-5733. Park visitors are reminded that no glass containers and no dogs are allowed in parks.

Free Family Fishing at Byrd Park Saturday

The department will hold its annual Family Fishing Fair on Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to noon at Shield’s Lake in Byrd Park. The family event celebrates Virginia’s Free Fishing Weekend, when no license is required to fish, and is meant to introduce newcomers and novices to the sport and fun of fishing.

      Local fishing experts will be on hand to teach basic freshwater catch and release fishing, and at 11 a.m. there will be a Kid’s Casting Contest and a Backyard Bass Contest. Both contests will offer fishing rods and reels as prizes.

      The public is encouraged to bring their fishing equipment and come see if they can “catch the big one!”  

       Some loaner poles and tackle will be available for use on a limited basis.

       For more information contact Wyatt Kingston at (804) 232-1982 or   Wyatt.Kingston@RichmondGov.com.

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Ban Caribe, Kirby Carmichael to Headline Event for Seniors

Free senior day in the park features live music, food and games - Senior citizens age 50 and older are invited to grab their gear and come out to the park for a day of fun with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities at the annual Senior Day in the Park. The free festival, which features live music, food, games, and all kinds of fun for senior citizens, will be held Thursday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Carillon in Byrd Park.

    Providing the entertainment will be Richmond’s popular Ban Caribe, with its hot blend of Afro-Cuban, Latin, Caribbean and rhythm and blues music. Also, Richmond radio legend Kirby Carmichael will play the hits from his collection of oldies that guarantee a trip down memory lane.

    Between the entertainment, festival attendees can shop, eat, and play games like cards, chess, dominoes, puzzles and checkers, or participate in an arts and crafts activity. Vendors will have food items on sale such as hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, fish, box lunches and more. Participants can also bring their own picnic basket and games and are asked to bring their own lawn chair for seating.

    A variety of retailers will have items like books, jewelry, handbags, hats, and handmade crafts for sale. Various agencies will have information tables on site pertaining to resources that are available for seniors. Prizes will be given away throughout the day.

    For more information, call (804) 646-5733.

Pedal Boat Rides at Byrd Park Now Open

Make it a family tradition and get out and take a pedal boat ride on Byrd Park’s Fountain Lake. It’s a Richmond experience you don’t want to miss, and something many Richmond adults remember from their own childhood and now want to share with their children. The pedal boat rides are now open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and cost just $12 for half an hour.

      In addition, Croaker's Spot Express has taken over the concession at The Landing at Fountain Lake. They are offering a variety of seafood and other dinner plates and sandwiches, as well as kids’ meals and ice cream. Watch their website at www.croakersspotexpress.com for more information on their menu. You can also call your order in ahead at (804) 353-1717 for a quick pick up or a picnic to take to one of the upcoming outdoor performances at Dogwood Dell.  

     The pedal boat rides and concession at The Landing are made possible by Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

           

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Celebrate Memorial Day with a Free Concert in the Park

The public is invited to attend the City’s free Memorial Day Concert at the Carillon in Byrd Park on Monday, May 27 at 4 p.m. 

      The concert, hosted by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, will feature a vocal performance by soprano Lisa Edwards-Burrs, associate professor of voice at Virginia State University who has performed extensively in recital, oratorio and chamber music. She will be joined by classical/jazz pianist Russell Wilson, who has also enjoyed a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician, as principal pianist for the Richmond Symphony, and performing with the Russell Wilson Quartet and the Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra.

      The program will begin will musical pieces played on the bells of the World War I Memorial Carillon by Lawrence Robinson, the City’s Carilloneur, a title he has held from more than 50 years.

      Croaker Spot Express will be on hand to provide lunch in the park. For information on their menu, call (804) 353-1717 or (804) 303-8754.

      Following are some of the pieces to be performed:

“Morning Has Broken”

“Amazing Grace”

“Beautiful Dreamer”

“God Bless America”

“My Country 'Tis of Thee”

“Let There Be Peace On Earth”

“We Shall Overcome”

“Blue Skies”

“Abide With Me”

“Turn, Turn, Turn”

“Simple Gifts”

“Unforgettable”

“Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen”

“At Last”

“Oh, What A Beautiful Morning”

“What A Wonderful World”

For more information, call (804) 646-1031.

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City, Comcast Partner to Beautify Byrd Park

Hundreds of Volunteers Expected on Comcast Cares Day, Comcast’s Annual Nationwide Day of Service

 

WHAT:           Local volunteers, including City of Richmond and Comcast employees and their families and friends; the Mayor’s Participation, Action, and Communication Team (MPACT); Friends of Byrd Park, Clean City Commission, and Sierra Club – Fall of James chapter; and students from Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Union University, will beautify Byrd Park during Comcast’s 12^th annual Comcast Cares Day. Volunteer activities will include planting and landscaping, cleaning and repairing the Ha’Penny Stage, clearing debris along the historic bridal path, cleaning alleys and sidewalks.

WHO:             City of Richmond and Comcast employees, their families and friends; other members of the local community.

WHEN:          Saturday, April 27 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

                       

WHERE:        Byrd Park (600 S. Boulevard)

About Comcast Cares Day: 

April 27, 2013 will mark the 12^th annual Comcast Cares Day, which has grown to be the largest single-day corporate volunteer effort in the country. Over the past 11 Comcast Cares Days, more than 437,000 Comcast employees and their families and friends have contributed more than 2.6 million hours of service at approximately 4,200 project sites across the nation. The Comcast Foundation also has given out more than $12 million in Comcast Cares Day grants over that period. This year, Comcast expects more than 70,000 volunteers to participate in more than 600 projects across the United States and, for the first time, in the United Kingdom. Comcast also anticipates reaching three million hours of service and more than 500,000 volunteers since the first Comcast Cares Day in 2001.

Local residents/groups interested in volunteering on Comcast Cares Day at Byrd Park can visit www.friendsofwilliambyrdpark.com or email friendsofwmbyrdpark@gmail.com.

Comcast has been committed to serving local communities since its founding 50 years ago. For more information on Comcast’s volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit www.comcast.com/community.

  

About Byrd Park:

Byrd Park is a 287-acre park in Richmond and is one of the city’s most popular parks. Spread along both sides of The Boulevard and Blanton Avenue starting at the Columbus Statue you will find Fountain Lake, a self-lighted tennis complex for anytime play, and two softball fields. Sunbathing and pedal boat rides at Fountain Lake are popular in the summer, and a full-service concession building at the lakes offers snacks, lunch, restrooms and free Wi-Fi during the summer season. 

     Further south to the east of Blanton Avenue are Swan Lake, Sheilds Lake, the Round House, which can be used for small meetings, and the Vitacourse, an exercise trail popular year-round. At the southern end of Blanton Avenue are the park's historic World War I Carillon, the Dogwood Dell Amphitheater and Ha'Penny Stage, additional picnic shelters, a children's playground, and the popular Barker Field Dog Park.

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Department to Hold Free Youth Tennis Clinic

The department hold a free tennis clinic for kids, ages 6 to 18, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, at the Byrd Park Tennis Complex on South Boulevard. 

     The clinic will introduce youth to the fundamentals of tennis using fun, innovative instructions. It is free of charge; however participants are asked to call 646-1208 or visit one of the department’s community centers to sign up for this clinic. Community center locations can be found at www.RichmondGov.com/parks or by calling 646-5733.  

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NYC Fitness Gurus Offer Free Workout in Byrd Park

Join New York fitness gurus Lisa and Priest Priestly of WholeLifeStyles Inc. for a free workout in Byrd Park beside Fountain Lake on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 9 a.m.  The city’s Healthy Richmond Campaign and the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League are partnering to host this event for fans and the public during the Inner City Classic youth baseball tournament, July 31 through August 5.

     Lisa Priestly and Roderick “Priest” Priestly, two of New York City’s top fitness trainers and co-owners of WholeLifeStyles Inc., will lead the workout that is designed for all fitness levels. After the workout, pick up some personal tips and take advantage of the free health and fitness information.

     “We are pleased to have these two fitness ‘stars’ in Richmond to lead this free workout,” said Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Director Dr. Norman Merrifield. “Both the Classic youth baseball tournament and this workout opportunity complement the Mayor’s Healthy Richmond Campaign in promoting healthy lifestyle choices that have a physical and economic impact on the well-being of the entire community.”

     Lisa and Priest take a holistic approach to fitness that incorporates physical fitness, nutritional awareness and mental focus to achieve optimal health. Their integrated approach comes from Lisa’s experiences in personal communications work, Yoga, holistic lifestyle coaching, and Ayurveda along with multiple fitness certifications, and Priest’s focus and discipline gained through martial arts and results-oriented fitness goals.

     For more information on the Inner City Classic, visit www. mjbl.org.

                                                                   

City to Kickoff 55th Annual Festival of the Arts June 10

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the City of Richmond will kick off the 55th annual Festival of the Arts on Friday, June 10, at 8 p.m. on the Dogwood Dell stage with the Upper East Side Big Band. The festival features 30 evenings of outdoor family entertainment at Dogwood Dell throughout out the summer that are free to attend.
Highlighting the annual festival will be the city’s Fourth of July Celebration at the Dell. This year, beginning at 4 p.m., it will feature local hip hop group Kids in Da Biz, jazz by Sharon North, a concert on the Carillon bells, and rousing patriotic music by the Richmond Concert Band concluding with a fireworks extravaganza.
Other highlights of the annual summer festival include a Gospel Music Fest on Sunday, July 10, from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., a Latin Jazz and Salsa Festival on Saturday, July 23, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and a special tribute to local musician Page Wilson on Sunday, July 17, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. that will feature Terry Garland and Lil’ Ronnie, Wilson’s band Reckless Abandon, and the Janet Martin Band performing rock, blues and Americana music.
In addition to the wide variety of musical entertainment, the festival brings dance, movies, and theater to the Dell, as well as an entire lineup of morning and afternoon entertainment especially for young audiences on the Ha’Penny Stage, which is adjacent to the Dell.
Families are encouraged to bring picnics and blankets to performances, however no alcohol or pets are allowed. The outdoor amphitheatre is located in Byrd Park at 1300 Blanton Avenue, just north of the Boulevard Bridge.
The Festival of the Arts is produced by the Cultural Arts Division of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. The complete schedule of programs can be downloaded from the main page of the city’s website at www.richmondgov.com.

Free Family Fishing Fair set for June 4

The department will hold a Family Fishing Fair on Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to noon at Shield’s Lake in Byrd Park. The event will be free and open to anyone five years old and older. No fishing license is required because it’s Virginia’s annual Free Fishing Weekend.
Local fishing experts will be on hand to teach basic freshwater catch-and-release fishing.
If you plan to attend, the department recommends that you bring water to drink and a folding chair. Also bring your own fishing poles and tackle if you have them. The department will have some poles and tackle available for use, but these will be limited to two per family.
Co-sponsoring the event with the department are Region 3 Bassmasters, Trout Unlimited, Virginia Fishing Adventures, Green Top Hunting & Fishing, Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, and Chesterfield County.

Have Lunch Served on a Frisbee!

The Landing, the concession at Byrd Park, will open for business at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 28. It's located at Byrd Park’s Fountain Lake and offers pedal boat rides and food service throughout the summer months. It will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. until dusk.
Pedal boat rides will cost $12 for 30 minutes, and food service will include hot dogs, hamburgers, barbeque, a wide variety of sandwiches, cold plates, sides, ice cream, and beverages - including Polar Shock Frozen Drinks! In addition, you can have your box lunch served in a box - or on Frisbee at no additional charge!
Visit www.petesgreatfood.com for the complete menu or to order in advance. Ordering online in advance will have your order ready for pick up and can save time if you are on a limited lunch hour or on your way to a Festival of the Arts performance at Dogwood Dell. You can also contact Pete's for group rates.
The Festival of the Arts kicks off at Dogwood Dell on Friday, June 10 at 8 p.m. with big band and swing music by the Upper East Side Big Band. Watch for a copy of the complete Dogwood Dell schedule to be published on this website or call 804-646-DELL for program updates.

April 16 Arbor Day Festival Offers Fun for the Entire Family

Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will co-sponsor Stay Co2ol With Trees, Richmond’s third annual Arbor Day celebration with fun and information for everyone in the family. Come out and enjoy the activities at the Carillon in Byrd Park on Saturday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's free to attend and will be held rain or shine. At the event, children can climb trees, hunt “treasure,” create art or make a pinecone bird feeder. They will meet PBS KIDS’ Clifford the Big Red Dog and Nutzy, the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ mascot, as well as members of the Richmond Police Department’s Mounted Patrol and the Richmond Fire Department. The Sharon Rae North Trio, a jazz combo, will entertain; tree care professionals will be on hand to offer expert advice; and woodcarvers will demonstrate their skill. Plants, landscaping services, pruning tools and more will be exhibited and on sale, and a “Wow! Tree Walk” will be held throughout the event. What's a “Wow! Tree Walk?” It’s “Wow! I didn’t know bad mulching could kill a tree! Wow! I didn't know that trees can reduce street maintenance costs . . . raise property values . . . reduce summer and winter energy costs!” Wow, it's free park walks led by experts who will answer all your questions about trees. Also on the program, from 11 a.m. to noon, Lou Verner, wildlife-mapping coordinator of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, will explain “Why We Won’t Save Wildlife Without Native Plant Landscapes.” In addition, gardening expert Richard Nunnally will be on hand to talk with fans and help solve plant problems. The festival will conclude with a ceremonial tree planting presented by the American Legion Post 84 with their Color Guard and Memorial Rifles. Arbor Day sponsors include the Richmond Tree Stewards, Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, and Richmond’s Urban Forestry Division of the Department of Public Works. Gold corporate sponsors include Dominion, the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Community Idea Stations Public Broadcasting. Silver Sponsors include Cisneros Roofing, Colesville Nursery, Davey Tree Expert Co., Glen Allen Nursery, Riverside Outfitters and Virginia Department of Forestry. Bronze Sponsors include Arborscapes LLC, Circle Safety & Health Consultants LLC, Ginter Park Residents Association, Hudgins Landscaping, James River Grounds Management, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Richmond International Raceway, Truetimber Tree Service Inc., Vermeer Mid Atlantic, and Westover Hills Neighborhood Association. The Richmond Tree Stewards are trained volunteers who help the arborists of Urban Forestry care for trees along city streets and in parks. In 2010, they volunteered more than 1,500 hours of service to the city. You too can be a Tree Steward. Learn more at http://richmondtreestewards.wordpress.com or visit with them at the festival.

Volunteers Needed to Help 'Tree the Track'

Do you enjoy Byrd Park? Have you ever used the Byrd Park vita course? Are you looking for a way to help make our city a better place to live? Then join the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and the Friends of Byrd Park on Saturday, January 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, in a Neighbor-to-Neighbor project that will help beautify the park.
Volunteers are needed to help plant 30 new trees around the Byrd Park vita course. The holes will be dug in advance, and volunteers are needed to mulch, water and shovel dirt around the new plantings. This project is a great activity for families to enjoy together, and all ages can help.
Neighbor-to-Neighbor is an initiative of Mayor Dwight C. Jones to encourage the residents of Richmond to get involved and become active architects in “Building a Better Richmond.”
For more information and to volunteer to help Tree the Track, call 355-2639 or 342-9005 or visit www.Richmondgov.com/Mayor and click on the Neighbor-to-Neighbor link.

Celebrate Veterans' Day at the Carillon

The department will hold a Veterans’ Day ceremony on Thursday, November 11, at 4 p.m. at the World War I Memorial Carillon building in Byrd Park. All veterans and the public are invited to attend.
The program will feature a concert on the Carillon bells by carillonneur Lon Mitchell, presentation of colors by the Huguenot High School Color Guard, vocal selections, and the presentation of a memorial wreath.
Retired Navy Capt. Dr. Carroll Londoner will speak on “The Last Mission of World War II.”
Heywood Harrison, director of music at Zion Baptist Church and staff musician at Ebenezer Baptist Church, will provide musical accompaniment, and Rev. Cheryl Ivy Green will offer the invocation and benediction.
For more information, call (804) 646-1031

Special movie night set for Oct. 29

Families are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes to the final film in the department’s fall series of free outdoor movies, which will be shown at Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park on Friday, October 29.
The department will show Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” from 7 to 9 p.m.
“Our movies in the parks have been a huge success," said J.R. Pope, director of the department. "Families from all over the city have really enjoyed them. They’re a great way for families and neighbors to get outdoors and have some fun, and it's all free.”
The department chose to offer its free movie series to provide families with an affordable recreation option in the current economic environment. All the movies have been free to attend, and free popcorn is handed out for as long as it lasts.
Audiences should bring chairs or blankets and can also bring their own sodas and snacks. Food and drinks can also be purchased from the concession stand at Dogwood Dell.
As a reminder, no glass containers or pets are allowed at Dogwood Dell.

Mayor Announces Public Boating on Several City Lakes

July 1, 2010 - Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced today an enhancement to several city parks by allowing non-powered watercraft on three city park lakes. Beginning today, visitors will be allowed to boat on Shields Lake and Swan Lake in William Byrd Park and on Forest Hill Lake in Forest Hill Park.

“I believe residents will enjoy boating on these city lakes as it highlights the aesthetic beauty of our city parks as well as aids in promoting fitness in our city,” said Mayor Jones. “A city’s greatness cannot be measured without including its parks and green spaces, and this added activity highlights the numerous amenities of the already great park system we have here in the city of Richmond. I would like to thank the city’s department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities for implementing this initiative which allows residents and visitors to our city, enhanced access to the city’s parks and lakes.”

The use of non-powered watercraft provides park boaters the opportunity to view the beauty of city’s parks from a different perspective. Paddling and rowing are activities that require the engagement of multiple muscle groups and which helps tone muscles and reduce body weight.

Boaters should use caution as they enter their boats into the water and adhere to the following rules when boating in city lakes:

- Non-powered watercraft only (examples include canoes, row boats, sailfish boats, dinghies and kayaks).
- Inflated tubes are not allowed.
- Powered watercraft (jet skis, wave runners, electric motors, outboards, etc) are not allowed.
- No boats over 13 feet in length.
- No glass containers allowed.
- Lakes close at sunset and open at sunrise daily from April 1 to Nov.30. Lakes are closed at all other times.
- Persons under age 13 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.
- Watercraft must be carried to the shore or may be launched from designated areas. No vehicle trailers allowed.
- No diving or swimming is allowed.
- Boaters and passengers assume all risk.

City Opens The Landing at Byrd Park

June 18, 2010 - Mayor Dwight C. Jones officially opened The Landing with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, June 18. The Landing is the new concession building constructed by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities at Fountain Lake in Byrd Park. The new facility includes restrooms and free WiFi, as well as outdoor tables with umbrellas.

“This is a wonderful new addition to Byrd Park that will enhance the amenities of the park,” said Mayor Jones. “Now residents and visitors can come and enjoy Byrd Park, use the free WiFi, and have refreshments from Sally Bell’s.”

“This makes it a perfect place for office workers to sit outside to enjoy lunch or for families to bring the kids for lunch after a pedal boat ride,” said the city’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities J. R. Pope.

“You can also order in advance and stop by to pick up something if you’re attending one of the city’s Festival of the Arts performances at Dogwood Dell,” he noted.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities incorporated several green components into the construction of the building in keeping with Mayor Jones’ green city initiative. These include the installation of waterless urinals, low-velocity flush toilets, and solar tubes in the roof to bring in more sunlight. The department is also making all of its new signage with recycled materials, and big belly trash cans in the park require emptying less often and save on gas.

The Landing will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, and Sally Bell’s, which has operated in Richmond for 85 years, will be offering their box lunches, as well as items from the grill, sides and desserts. You can find their complete menu online at www.sallybellskitchen.com., and orders can be placed in advance by calling (804) 204-1501.

MARTIN'S Donates Park Benches to City Parks

June 4, 2010
Richmond, VA – MARTIN’S donated 25 benches to Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities yesterday in a ceremony at Byrd Park. The supermarket chain, which now operates four stores in the city, encourages recycling and works with Trex® of Winchester, Virginia to turn recycled plastic bags into park benches, which it then donates to community organizations.

“We could not be more pleased with this donation,” said Dr. Carolyn Graham, the city’s deputy chief administrative officer for human services. “We welcome MARTIN’S to our city as a new corporate partner that cares about our community and is willing to step up to the plate and help us build a better Richmond.”

“These benches will help make our parks and playgrounds more inviting to the public and encourage outdoor activity,” said J.R. Pope, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

MARTIN’S Regional Vice President Jim Scanlon was on hand to donate the benches. “Each year, we donate park benches made from recycled plastic grocery bags to beautify local parks and green space in the neighborhoods where we have stores. We call it ‘Bags to Benches’ and we are delighted that 25 benches will find a new home in Richmond city parks where our customers and associates will be able to enjoy them,” he said. MARTIN’S employs approximately 700 full and part-time associates in its four Richmond stores.

The ceremony took place during the city department’s “Senior Day in the Park,” an annual event that kicks off a summer of programs for Richmond’s senior citizens. Four of the benches are already installed at the Byrd Park Tot Lot located just southwest of the Carillon. The remaining will be installed at parks and playgrounds throughout the city.

The department is responsible for 55 tot lots, 60 playgrounds and more than 57 parks and opens spaces throughout the city, including the James River Park System.

“Getting our city’s residents outdoors and active is one of the department’s most important missions,” said Roz Johnson, deputy director of the department. “It is also significant that MARTIN’S donation is based on recycling, an environmental initiative that is becoming increasingly more important. Recycling not only helps our planet, it helps our department save on park maintenance and transporting waste to the landfill,” she said.

Each bench is made from approximately 5,500 recycled plastic bags, according to MARTIN’S. Since 1997, the company has donated 1,400 park benches to a variety of organizations, including parks, playgrounds, fire departments, churches, libraries and schools.

For more information on MARTIN’S Bags to Benches program visit www.MartinsFoods.com.

For more information on Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities visit www.RichmondGov.com/parks.